David Natusch (54-58) Rhodes Scholar

Lindisfarne College has a very proud academic heritage and many students have gone on from the College to achieve considerable academic distinction. This tradition was established early on with the first two Duxes of the College, Tony McKnight and David Natusch achieving PhDs and illustrious careers. David Natusch died last year in October and it seems fitting that we should recall his achievements and significant contribution to society.

 

David attended Lindisfarne College from 1954 to 1958. His parents were great supporters of the College from the beginning and on one occasion, hosted the entire school at their farm in Maraekakaho for a Guy Fawkes’ evening. This was recorded in one of the earliest Chronicles: “A huge pile of rockets and crackers was waiting for us and each boy was given a bag of crackers kindly supplied by our hosts”. We can only hope that schoolboys in the 50s were more safety conscious than they are now! 

David was involved with all aspects of College life and even contributed essays to the early editions of the Chronicle. He achieved representative honours and Colours for rugby, cricket and athletics and won prizes for Science, Geography, English and Scripture. In his final year at Lindisfarne, David was Head Boy and Dux and was awarded both the Charles Upham and the Isabella Siteman Scholarships. The Isabella Siteman Scholarship was awarded on the basis of the University Entrance Scholarship examination for which David was the first Lindisfarne College candidate. The Lindisfarne Chronicle from 1958 states, “Throughout his school career, David Natusch showed the same enthusiasm and high endeavour in all the opportunities of school life and gained corresponding success.”

David went on to study at Canterbury University where he received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science majoring in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. He was also awarded a University of Canterbury triple Blue for his sporting prowess. In 1963, David was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to undertake a PhD at Oxford. He is the only Lindisfarne student to have earned this prestigious scholarship. David graduated from Oxford with a Doctor of Philosophy in 1966. In 1970 he received a Fullbright Scholarship and went on to study and work in the United States. David subsequently occupied high-profile and prestigious academic positions in America and Europe and was involved with significant scientific achievements, in particular, the work on nuclear magnetic resonance which led to the invention of the MRI machine. 

David’s work was wide-ranging and extensive and he contributed to projects as diverse as NASA space modules and the risks associated with burning some fossil fuels. His work led to lecture appearances around the world and the publication of 105 scientific articles and five books. After 1981 David lived in New Zealand but continued to work internationally for organisations like the UN, WHO, World Bank, and APEC. Outside his professional life, David showed the same enthusiasm for service and new skills and became a Justice of the Peace and a marriage celebrant as well as President of the New Zealand Rhodes Scholars Association.

The many tributes at David’s funeral revealed that he was a loving and engaged family man who had a great sense of humour. One of his most persistent characteristics was his curiosity and thirst for knowledge. This is expressed in comments by his grandson, 
“Papa had no perceived 'ceiling' on what was possible. No project, idea, adventure, or curiosity was beyond his reach. He would follow his nose into the strangest of places and grasp every opportunity as it came. Undeterred by convention, he truly believed that all things are possible, and acted on this belief every day.“ 

David Natusch’s curiosity and belief in what is possible is in perfect alignment with the values that Lindisfarne upholds and is a great way for current students to pursue a life of ‘Success and significance